The Startup CPG Podcast
Business & Finance
About
The top CPG podcast in the world, highlighting stories from founders, buyer spotlights, highly practical industry insights - all to give you a better chance at success.
Episodes
- R&D Radio: Monte Ammons from Liquid Sherpas
In this episode of R&D Radio, Monte Ammons of Liquid Sherpas discusses product development, emphasizing strategic planning over immediate formulation. He explains the importance of technical product briefs and understanding business needs…
- Founder + Funder: Anabel González, Founder of Good Bacteria and Hayden Williams, Partner of BrandProject
This episode of The Startup CPG Podcast features Anabel González, founder of Good Bacteria, and Hayden Williams, Partner at BrandProject. They discuss the investment process from both a founder's and investor's perspective, covering topics…
- Founder Feature: Sean Knecht of Tantos!
Sean Knecht, co-founder of Tantos, shares his journey of creating the first puffed pasta chip. He discusses his experiences appearing on Shark Tank, the challenges of rapid growth, and his strategy for pitching to Whole Foods. He also talk…
- #247 - How to Build a Board with Seth Goldman, JUST ICE Tea
Seth Goldman shares insights on when CPG founders need a board, how to select members, and effective board management, drawing from his experience with Honest Tea and Just Ice Tea.
- Bonus Episode: Khalil Khamis of Crafty Ramen
Khalil Khamis, CEO of Crafty Ramen, details the brand's evolution from a small Canadian restaurant to a significant player in the frozen food aisle. The discussion covers their innovative "fresh frozen puck" format, the challenges of scali…
- Founder Feature: Lex Evan of Lexington Bakes
Host Caitlin Bricker interviews Lex Evan, founder of LEXINGTON BAKES, about his transition from graphic design to the baked goods industry. They discuss the brand's focus on ingredient transparency, his experience as a solo founder, and hi…
- #246 - BevNET 101 with John Craven
John Craven, founder and CEO of BevNET, discusses his media company's 30-year journey from a college project to a CPG media empire. He covers the evolution of the CPG industry, discusses barriers to entry for new brands, and shares insight…
- R&D Radio: Colleen Cottrell, Independent Consultant at C Cottrell Consulting
Adam Yee hosts Colleen Cottrell on R&D Radio to discuss ingredient functionality, a crucial aspect of product development. Colleen explains how processing affects ingredients, offers DIY assay methods for founders, and shares insights on s…
- Opportunity Knocks: Get Direct Access to Top Retailers
The Startup CPG Podcast introduces "Opportunity Knocks," a new platform connecting emerging brands with retailers and distributors. Hosts Daniel Scharff and Caitlin Bricker explain the submission process, what retailers look for, and how t…
- Investor Spotlight: Rogers Healy, Morrison Seger Venture Capital Partners
Rogers Healy, founder of Morrison Seger Venture Capital Partners, shares insights on building CPG brands, the founder-investor relationship, and his investment approach with host Hannah Dittman on the Startup CPG Podcast.
- Founder Feature: Maria of The Purple Drop
Host Caitlin Bricker interviews Maria Velasquez, founder of Purple Drop, about bringing the traditional Peruvian drink chicha morada to the US market. They discuss the functional benefits of purple corn, the brand's production journey, and…
- #245 - Growing Your Brand with Influencer Marketing with Joybyte
This episode of The Startup CPG Podcast features Myriah Castillo and Val Ponce De Leon of Joybyte discussing strategic influencer marketing for CPG brands. They emphasize treating influencers as a content engine, not just a conversion tool…
- How to Make the Most of Expo West as an Emerging CPG Brand | Little Latke, Gato Dates & Hola Mija Chips
This episode of the Startup CPG Podcast features Caitlin Bricker discussing Expo West with emerging brands Little Latke, Gato Dates, and Hola Mija Chips. The founders share insights on first-time exhibiting, the Alley Rally competition, an…
- Founder Fundraising Journey: Craig Dubitsky, Happy Products
Craig Dubitsky, co-founder and CEO of Happy Products, joins host Hannah Dittman to discuss his career in brand building. They cover his experiences with eos, hello, and Colgate, while sharing insights on fundraising, strategy, and mental m…
- Founder Feature: Matt Beaman of Goodburn Sauce Co.
Matt Beaman, co-founder of Goodburn Sauce Co., shares the origin story of his regenerative hot sauce brand, detailing ingredient sourcing, regenerative farming practices, and future product lines with host Caitlin Bricker.
- #244 - Live Pitch Practice & Feedback
In this episode of Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff and retail buyer Caitlin Bricker conduct a live pitch practice session. Founders received real-time feedback on their 30-second pitches, covering topics like energy, buyer questio…
- R&D Radio: Travis Zissu from Scale Food Lab
Travis Zissu, founder of Scale Food Labs, explains the process of scaling food products from development to production. He covers ingredient sourcing, prototype development, testing, and common pitfalls founders face when scaling home kitc…
- Investor Spotlight: Elly Truesdell, New Fare Partners
Elly Truesdell, founder and Managing Partner at New Fare Partners, shares insights on venture capital in the food and beverage sector. She details her career path from Whole Foods to founding Made by Nacho and launching New Fare Partners,…
- Founder Feature: Hannah Pollack of Nightingale Ice Cream
Hannah Pollack, founder and CEO of Nightingale Ice Cream, shares her entrepreneurial journey from the Marine Corps to launching a nationally distributed ice cream sandwich brand. The episode covers the definition of real ice cream, the log…
- #243 - Building Your Team Legal Considerations with Giannuzzi Lewendon
Blake Horn and Ryan Hall of Giannuzzi Lewendon discuss legal considerations for CPG startups, covering common mistakes in employee classification, agreements, and equity, highlighting the unique complexities of the CPG industry.
- Investor Spotlight: Denise Lambertson, Constellation Capital
Denise Lambertson of Constellation Capital shares her journey from executive assistant to managing partner, discussing her venture fund
- Founder Feature: Gabriella Labi and Tonya Reznikovich of Gato Dates
Gabriella Labi and Tonya Reznikovich, founders of Gato Dates, share their entrepreneurial journey on the Startup CPG Podcast. They detail how their premium Medjool date brand evolved from a home kitchen idea, utilizing farmers markets for…
- R&D Radio: Brian Chau from Chau Time
Brian Chau, founder of Chau Time, shares insights on the food industry
- #242 - KeHE Grocery Run Recap
Three winning brands from Startup CPG's KeHE Grocery Run event share their experiences. Founders discuss competing among 70 brands, buyer interactions, and securing retail commitments, offering actionable trade show advice.
- Investor Spotlight: Josh Resnick, OpenSky Ventures
Josh Resnick, co-founder of OpenSky Ventures, shares insights on the CPG fundraising landscape with host Hannah Dittman. They cover valuation, runway, dilution, and the traits of successful founders.
- Founder Feature: Edouardo Jordan of The Food with Roots
Edouardo Jordan, founder of Food with Roots, discusses his transition from award-winning chef to CPG entrepreneur. He shares how his brand celebrates Black food traditions and his work with the nonprofit Soul of Seattle.
- #241 - Breaking Into Misfits Market: What the Buying Team Actually Wants
In this episode of The Startup CPG Podcast, the Misfits Market buying team shares insights on how brands can get onto their platform. They discuss the evolution of Misfits Market, the different pathways for brands to be featured, and what…
- Investor Spotlight: Mollye Santulli, Springdale Ventures
Mollye Santulli, Principal at Springdale Ventures, joins Hannah Dittman on the Startup CPG Podcast to discuss early-stage consumer investing. They cover Springdale's investment thesis, focusing on brands with $1-15M revenue and founder-led…
- Founder Feature: Jessica Hamel of PlantChi
Jessica Hamel, founder of PlantChi, shares how her brand offers simple, real-food nutrition without the stress of wellness optimization. The episode discusses consumer trust in health claims, the power of seeds, and PlantChi's community-fo…
- R&D Radio: Rachel Zemser, Founder of A La Carte Connections
In the debut episode of R&D Radio, host Adam Yee talks with Rachel Zemser, founder of A La Carte Connections. They discuss the importance of securing a co-packer before investing in research and development, exploring platforms for manufac…
- Mini Episode: Extracts and Essences (Tea, Coffee, and more) with Vibrant Ingredients
Host Daniel Scharff talks with Bill Hayes of Vibrant Ingredients about the distinction between tea extracts and essences. They also cover natural flavors, functional ingredients like L-theanine and caffeine, and tips for beverage product d…
- #240 - Introducing Startup CPG's R&D Radio with Adam Yee
Startup CPG launches R&D Radio, a new segment hosted by food scientist Adam Yee, focusing on research and development for emerging brands. Adam Yee, with extensive experience in food science and entrepreneurship, will interview experts to…
- Investor Spotlight: Sumeet Shah, VHS Ventures
Sumeet Shah, founder of VHS Ventures, shares insights on the investor diligence process, emphasizing balance sheet health and the importance of trust in founder-investor relationships. The episode covers VHS Ventures' investment thesis, co…
- Founder Feature: Keya Wingfield of Keya's Snacks
Keya Wingfield, founder of Keya's Snacks, shares her journey of creating a CPG brand featuring Indian-inspired chip flavors. She discusses the brand's origin, packaging design, making flavors accessible, and managing founder burnout.
- Mini Episode: Founders and Funders Roadshow
In this episode of The Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff details the new Founders & Funders Roadshow, a series of fundraising events happening in four cities in 2026. He explains the application process, the 10-minute 1:1 meetings w…
- Mini Episode: Flavors, Formulators & Fast Turnarounds with Ian Haworth, FlavorSum
In this episode, host Daniel Scharff speaks with Ian Haworth, Business Development Director at FlavorSum, about custom flavor manufacturing for growing food and beverage brands. They discuss the company's solutions model, the importance of…
- #239 - The New Non-UPF Verification with Megan Westgate
Megan Westgate, CEO of the Non GMO Project, introduces the Non UPF Verified certification designed to address the health crisis from ultra-processed foods. The standard requires 70% minimally processed ingredients, prohibits certain additi…
- Understanding Advisors with Jamie Borteck
Jamie Borteck, an experienced operator and independent advisor, shares insights on the advisor-founder relationship, how to evaluate brands for advisory potential, and the strategic importance of D2C for early-stage CPG companies on The St…
- Founder Feature: Emmanuel Waters and Courtney Tucker of Old Hillside Bourbon
Emmanuel Waters and Courtney Tucker, founders of Old Hillside Bourbon, share their journey of building a premium spirit brand that celebrates Black history and heritage. They discuss overcoming industry barriers, honoring historical figure…
- #238 - Legal Ask-Me-Anything with Giannuzzi Lewendon
In this episode, attorneys Adam Marsh and Gabrielle McGonagle from Giannuzzi Lewendon address frequently asked legal questions from the Startup CPG community. They cover topics such as friends and family rounds, institutional fundraising,…
- Founder Fundraising Journey: Jesse Konig, CEO & Co-Founder of Jesse & Ben's
Host Hannah Dittman interviews Jesse Konig, CEO and co-founder of Jesse & Ben's, about his experiences in fundraising and building a fast-growing frozen CPG brand. The conversation covers his transition from the restaurant industry to CPG…
- Founder Feature: Lindsay Hancock of My Better Batch
Lindsay Hancock, founder of My Better Batch, shares her entrepreneurial journey, transitioning from a career in food manufacturing to creating a clean label cookie mix. Despite personal challenges, she launched My Better Batch, secured ret…
- #237 - Inside Founders & Funders with Alex Michaelsen from Leisure Hydration and Alex Malamatinas from Melitas Ventures
Alex Michaelsen and Alex Malamatinas join The Startup CPG Podcast to discuss the Founders & Funders investor event. They cover founder standouts, pitching strategies, and the CPG triangle of margin, velocity, and cash flow.
- Unpacking CPG Finance: Ryan Williams, Founder of Northall
Ryan Williams, founder of Northall, discusses CPG finance and accounting essentials for early-stage brands with host Hannah Dittman. The episode covers financial foundations, key investor metrics, and Northall's services, offering actionab…
- Founder Feature: Kun Yang of Pricklee
Kun Yang, co-founder of Pricklee, discusses the brand's four-year journey from launching in Boston to achieving product-market fit. The natural hydration drink, powered by prickly pear cactus fruit, was developed by two doctors of pharmacy…
- #236 - Expo West Tips for New Exhibitors
In this solo episode, Daniel Scharff of Startup CPG provides a detailed playbook for new exhibitors at Expo West. The episode covers strategies for pre-show planning, buyer engagement, booth execution, and post-show follow-up to help brand…
- The Year of Fiber: What to Expect at Expo West 2026 with Comet
This episode discusses the rise of fiber and gut health trends in the CPG industry, highlighting Expo West 2026 predictions. Guests from Comet explore consumer interest in fiber, innovative product categories like prebiotic sodas and jams,…
- Investor Spotlight: Brian Bernstein, Rich Products Ventures
Brian Bernstein from Rich Products Ventures joins The Startup CPG Podcast to discuss corporate venture capital, focusing on evaluating early-stage food brands by looking at product-market fit, key metrics, and his own career journey. He ex…
- Founder Feature: Chef V of Alchemy of Food
Chef V, founder of Alchemy of Food, shares his transition from a global chef to a CPG brand owner after losing his sense of taste due to COVID-19. He discusses sourcing local ingredients, transitioning from restaurant to CPG production, an…
- #235 - Winter FancyFaire* Recap with Leana Salamah from SFA, John Lane from Raley's, and Marc Brown from ONOIN
The Startup CPG Podcast features a recap of Winter Fancy Faire* 2026 with Leana Salamah, John Lane, and Marc Brown. They discuss the reimagined trade show format, emerging trends like "sense maxing," and strategies for maximizing ROI from…